Impact of irrigation and crop residue management on maize (Zea mays)– chickpea (Cicer arietinum) sequence under no tillage conditions

A field experiment was conducted during 2007-08 and 2010-11 at Belvatagi, Karnataka to study the effect of irrigation and crop residue mulching on water use efficiency and yield of maize (Zea mays L.) - chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) sequence under no tillage condition. In this experiment, three irrigation levels (0.8, 0.6 and 0.4 IW/CPE ratio) were combined with or without crop residue in no tillage situation in split plot design and compared with tillage control. Maize and chickpea grain yields were significantly influenced by irrigation. Application of crop residue did not affect the maize and chickpea but affected the maize - chickpea sequence as a whole. No till maize grain yield was higher with 0.6 IW/CPE ratio with residues (8.68 tonnes/ha) and was on par with tilled maize (8.69 tonnes/ha). This treatment also recorded higher water use efficiency (18.43 kg/ha-mm). No tillage significantly reduced the chickpea grain yield in comparison to normal tillage; but improved the water use efficiency. No tilled maize - chickpea sequence required irrigation at 0.6 IW/CPE ratio with crop residue application @ 5 tonnes/ha for maize and 0.4 IW/CPE with residue for chickpea was found better for higher yield and water use efficiency.